I thoroughly believe that the most hopeful factor in the situation today, and one that will save the reindeer industry for the Eskimos, is the awakening of the natives to their own responsibilities. Each fair will strengthen them along this line. Recommendations.-(1) Expert supervision. We should secure the services of a

trained man to study the herds, improve breeding and fight disease.

(2) Native supervision. We should develop the head-herder idea as worked out at the fairs and give several of the leading natives a very nominal salary, either as teachers, from the education fund, or as head herders from the reindeer fund.

(3) Secure an appropriation for the importation of 200 bulls from Siberia to improve the stock.

(4) Settle the matter of grazing rights.

(5) Use a part of the funds, either education or reindeer, or both, for the support of The Eskimo.

(6) Continue the fairs for at least three years more.

(7) The chief of the division should make a winter visit to northern Alaska in the interests of the reindeer industry.

REPORT OF WALTER H. JOHNSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT.

Inspection.-Special effort was made to visit the heretofore-uninspected villages and camps and, with a few exceptions, every stream, bay, island, and village, was visited. The villages near the mouth of the Kuskokwim River, as well as the section north of Bristol Bay, were visited by Assistant Superintendent John H. Kilbuck, while the villages on the Shageluk slough were visited by W. E. Cochran. The approximate distance traveled by the superintendent was 5,000 miles-2,500 by small gas boat, 2,000 miles with reindeer, and 500 miles with dogs. While in conference with the chief of the division, at Seattle last July, plans were made for exploring the coast region of the tundra district between the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. As this country is a network of sloughs, small rivers, swamps, tide-flats, and lakes, a small boat large enough for two men to sleep in, yet small enough to be portable, was purchased, with a small detachable engine. With this outfit I was able to make the trip from Hooper Bay to Bethel, traveling back and forth in a zigzag course along the coast until Nelson Island was reached. From there the general direction of travel was toward the east, by way of the large tundra lakes and the tundra rivers until we arrived at the Kuskokwim River, which we ascended until the small slough or "dirty creek," as it is called, was reached. This is the entrance of the Yukon-Kuskokwim portage. We crossed this portage in five days, and because of low water it was necessary to carry our outfit over five places; some were Bot long-200 yards or more, while two were nearly a mile in length. Having to carry a complete camping outfit besides an engine, gasoline, and a boat, it was necesgry for us to make seven relays—80 pounds or 10 gallons of gasoline being considered a pack for one man in the soft moss or muck that is found on low ground. We then proceeded down the Yukon to St. Michael, whence a trip to Unalakleet and return was made before the freeze-up. Immediately after the break-up a trip was made to Nunivak and Nelson Islands, also to a few places that I had been unable to reach with a small boat last fall.

I now feel satisfied that I have thoroughly investigated conditions along the coast, islands, and tundra of this district. All investigations were carried on with the idea of locating schools or reindeer herds. Going south from Hooper Bay not a single suitable site was found until Nelson Island was reached; along the north and east shores of it there are no villages, the water being shallow when the tide is out. Several small camps or villages were found on this stretch of tundra, but they were all

built in low places near sloughs, rivers, lakes, or the ocean. The best location noticed was situated about 50 miles north-northeast of Nelson Island; and though there were no natives at this place, I believe that they would move to this low mountain if a school were placed there. At Nelson Island the natives were found on the west and south sides. They stay on the island for a few months in the summer and about three months in the spring, fishing in the summer and sealing in the spring before the ice goes out. Four days were spent at Tununa, on Nelson Island. A thorough investigation was made as to the resources of this place. There is very little game in the winter; in the spring the people come to the island for sealing, then after the ice goes out they scatter along the west side of the island and fish. Codfish, herring, and salmon are caught in abundance; water fowl abound; and berries are plentiful. Driftwood is scarce, but sufficient is found for kindling, while two good veins of coal are within 2 miles of Tununa. One vein is on the beach and can be loaded into boats, while the other is high up on the hillsides. Both veins are accessible and as the coal is of good quality it could be utilized to supply several of the coast schools, or at least Hooper Bay and Nunivak Island. Nelson Island is not suitable for reindeer grazing during the winter.

Nunivak Island has several small villages, the largest being located on the northeast coast. This village has an ideal site for a school, and the Methodist Missionary Society, with headquarters at Nome, is planning to build a mission at this place. The natives of Nunivak expressed their willingness to move wherever the school might be located. As the land is quite high and rolling, with gravel beaches, affording good drainage, the soil was not so wet and muddy as that of the tundra district and the people were not so muddy and dirty. At Kanrayuktaligamute, where the best site was found, there is a small stream for water; a little driftwood is gathered in the bay; water fowl, fish, berries, and sea birds furnish food in the summer, while seal hunting and fox trapping (white foxes) are profitable occupations during the winter. The island is the best adapted to the grazing of reindeer that I have seen.

By making a single portage of approximately 200 yards we were able to visit the villages on the large lakes north and west of Bethel. These lakes, though apparently deep, are quite shallow and we were able to touch bottom with our oars-5 feet being the average depth, and often places were found a mile or more from shore that were only 3 feet deep. This has to be considered when the school site is decided upon. The villages are all located at the entrance of sloughs or small rivers, consequently the ground is lower and not as suitable for building purposes as that found farther back. A good location for a school was noticed on a slough leading from these lakes into the Kuskokwim River. Here a native trader has a small store and one or two native families live near by, but the native village proper is across the river on lower ground. If a school should be built on the high ground it would be necessary to have the natives move across the river or the children would have to cross in oats until the ice formed. The name of this place is Piagamute and is the nearest village to the Kuskokwim River, being about 20 miles from Bethel by land and 50 by water. The supplies could be shipped to Bethel and then transferred to smaller boats for transporting to the school site.

The region north and west from Akiak has not a sufficient number of natives to warrant a school. Three small villages were visited, with one or two families in each. These people were invited to send their children to Akiak, Russian Mission, or Holy Cross. In many places arrangements were made whereby parents in outlying villages placed their children with relatives located in close proximity to a school, thereby giving the children the benefit of a schooling without removing the parent from his chosen hunting ground.

A school should be located on the Kashungnuk River, near the Yukon, where the last spruce timber is found. With a cooperative store, hospital, mission, doctor, and a nurse this place would draw from all of the tundra villages within a radius of

■ hundred miles. Only in June can the supplies be boated from the Yukon into this river and the supplies must come on the first boat on the opening of navigation. The distance to the site is approximately 40 miles from the Yukon by land, and a hundred by water. Land travel is impossible in summer. Kaltag, 40 miles below Nulato, and Kotlik, near the north mouth of the Yukon River, have sufficient children to warrant schools. A few of the Kaltag children attend school at Nulato, and three or four of the Kotlik children either attend at St. Michael or Hamilton.

Schools.-I believe that all of the teachers realize that to do justice to the work and the people, it is necessary to exercise a spirit of philanthropy. A teacher's time is not his own, as he soons finds out by experience, for often he is called at the most inopportune times to assist in philanthropic deeds. A self-willed person, who believes that he is giving up too much by laboring in this Alaskan country, is not the sort of a worker the bureau will retain in the work. The teachers are all efficient, and the general advancement of the communities shows that excellent work has been done. This year special stress has been put on filling every desk and seat in the schools. Many children living in distant villages were invited to come and live with their relatives so as to be able to take advantage of the school. In the schoolroom the children were taught to tan skins, make snowshoes, fish traps, fish nets, sleds, draw maps of the region on a large scale, in addition to the usual branches of study; the girls were instructed in cooking, sewing, and general housework, while the boys studied and practised agriculture. The best snowshoe maker in the vicinity was invited to instruct the class, and in this way the boys were soon able to turn out a creditable snowshoe. In one village the best workman happened to be the chief or spokesman, and he deemed it an honor to help the children and took great pride in teaching them. The same method was used in making sleds, tanning skins, etc., while all of the older men were invited to make additions to the large map of the region. In these ways the older people become interested in the work done by the children and try to keep their children in school as long as possible. It is the exception, rather than the rule, to find a parent that does not wish his child to attend school. Should a teacher go about his work in a half-hearted way it not only affects the children, but the whole village shows the lack of ambition.

Medical work.-Material for a hospital arrived at Akiak during the summer of 1916, but the boat that was to bring the carpenters, doctor, and nurse did not succeed in making its fall trip, so the building was not erected. However, a nurse managed to reach Akiak via the Yukon River, crossing the portage. She visited the schools and villages on the Kuskokwim River, and also the villages of the tundra. Her work was of a very satisfactory nature. A doctor will be in charge of the hospital, which will

be erected later.

At Nulato Doctor Lamb and his mother carried on the work in an excellent manner. The natives all trust Doctor Lamb and assist him in many ways. He is to be transferred to Akiak and the natives deplore the fact that their physician is to leave them. But they have been assured of a doctor, and understand that the hospital will not be closed.

Shageluk, Anvik, and Holy Cross are without the services of a physician. Holy Cross has a small hospital and a nurse in charge. A nurse is a great help in any community, but it is necessary that a doctor make occasional visits. Anvik will build a small infirmary and it has been promised a nurse by its Mission Board. This infirmary will be open to all natives, and as Anvik is conveniently located to Shageluk, by winter trail, and as most of the Shageluk natives come to the Yukon to fish during summer, near Anvik, a doctor should be placed in this locality, with headquarters at Anvik. Rev. J. W. Chapman voiced the sentiment of the Anvik people by stating that they would be willing to provide a place for the doctor to stay while at Anvik. The doctor would travel among the Shageluk, Holikachuket, Holy Cross,

the

and Swiftwater natives. The only expense to the bureau would be the drugs, travel and salary of the doctor.

A medical man should be stationed at Mountain Village. If possible his wife should teach the school. This doctor would make trips into the tundra and visit Pilot Station, Hamilton, and Akulurak. He would blaze the way for a hospital to be placed on the tundra, later. At the present time the people of the lower Yukon are without trained medical aid.

The nurse at St. Michael, with the free aid given by the post surgeon, is able to handle the situation very satisfactorily. I trust that some arrangement can be made with the War Department whereby the Interior Department can either pay for the services of their doctor at St. Michael or else have the doctor appointed to fill both positions. If this can not be done then the bureau should by all means send in a physician. This physician could attend to the native work of the surrounding villages and also care for the white population of the town. In the summer undoubtedly the doctor could add to his salary by caring for the work of the transportation companies, who have headquarters at St. Michael.

A nurse should be appointed to visit the villages of Norton Bay; she should travel between Unalakleet and Shaktoolik. A small infirmary should be fitted up at either of these places. Whenever funds are available a doctor should be located on Norton Bay, with headquarters at Unalakleet. At present these people come to St. Michael for aid, and as their ailments are often of a serious nature and require the services of a physician, they have to call on the post surgeon, whose fees are in accordance with other prices in Alaska. These people can ill afford to pay such fees.

Reindeer. This great industry is advancing by leaps and bounds, and if the bureau wishes to maintain its supervision, it will soon be necessary to appoint a man to have complete charge of all the reindeer in the country. This individual should familiarize himself with the business from all standpoints-marketing, grazing, breeding, herding, diseases, etc. I do not mean that his jurisdiction should apply to all owners of reindeer, except when it became necessary to exercise authority in dealing with diseases, branding, disposition of strays, and the approving of grazing tracts. Not only is this industry of economic importance to the Eskimo but in the near future will prove a factor in the meat supply of the States.

Nunivak Island has a grazing area of approximately 1,000 square miles. The land is hilly and well drained, has very little brush, and is covered with the finest growth of reindeer moss that I have ever seen. The nearest land is about 30 miles away and as it is seldom frozen over, the deer could not stray. I estimate that Nunivak Island would continually feed 10,000 head of adult reindeer. Being in the direct line of ocean travel, no difficulty would be experienced in getting the meat to a good market. The Government should place deer on this island at once. The Hooper Bay herd is available and could be driven to Nelson Island for transporting to Nunivak at any time.

The Hooper Bay herd will be moved to a new location, for all of the available young men in this vicinity have been taught the work and now own deer. The plan is to place the herd nearer the Yukon River for a year, unless the Government decides to place this herd on Nunivak Island.

The Government training herd at Pilot Station will be moved to Shageluk. The Kinak herd has been moved up the Kuskokwim to the eastward of Akiak. The general trend of these herds is toward the east and the Indian will be given an opportunity to again enter the industry. Critics say that the Indian will not make a good herder. Next winter the Shageluk Indians will try to prove their ability as deer men and they are now preparing for the work.

The Holy Cross Mission herd is still in the vicinity of Andreafsky, under the direct supervision of the bureau. Though the bureau has kept a close supervision of this herd there have been no surplus males to send the mission for food. This herd will

undoubtedly be turned over at the first opportunity and the mission given another chance to manage it. I believe that it is necessary that they put a competent herder in charge and pay him a salary, he to have complete control of the herd. That is, if they intend to make a financial project out of the herd and raise the deer for a profit, instead of using the herd as a training school for furthering the industry. Two trained men will do the work of four apprentices and the expense of supplying an apprentice is as much, if not more than that of a herder, consequently the Government does not make a profit on its herds but it does continually train new men and introduce the industry to new communities.

A new herd will be started by taking the herders' and apprentices' deer from the mission and Government herds near Pilot Station. This herd will be placed near Pilot Station.

The Nulato Indians were given an opportunity to become reindeer owners and herders several years ago when a herd was placed there. They did not take kindly to the industry and the deer were removed. For the last three years these people have realized their folly and have tried every means at their disposal to get deer. It has been impossible to grant their request, and they are not capable of caring for deer. However, arrangements were made whereby young men of Nulato or vicinity could enter the industry as apprentices. Several requested positions and six were placed in herds near Unalakleet. When these young men become trained herders the deer that the Nulato people had when the herd was removed from there, will be placed with the young men and a new herd will be started and placed near Nulato. At present no settlement can be made, for by virtue of their contracts they forfeited their deer when they abandoned the herd. The Government wishes to give them every opportunity to get these deer back and if the young men stick for the four years of their apprenticeship, they will receive the number that they originally owned. Within a radius of a hundred miles of St. Michael there are seven herds. There is a tendency of herders to place their herds as near as possible to market. Regardless of grazing ground, they will let their deer remain at one place until the moss is practically destroyed. Every foot of available coast line near St. Michael is taken up by reindeer herders, partly because of camping and fishing facilities near salt water, and partly because of easy access to market. Owing to this ready market many of the natives killed all males, even those not yet grown, because they knew that the meat could be sold. However, there are times when reindeer meat is not to be found on the market. This is generally in the spring when the deer are poor and travel is difficult because of the trails.

It is the policy of the bureau to continue to introduce deer into new sections of the country. With this end in view arrangements have been made whereby parts of the Sinrock and Angoolook herds will be moved to new grazing grounds. The bureau has promised these natives that it will do all in its power to recognize the priority rights of any man putting a herd in a new locality. This has a salutary effect on this phase of the work. When a herd is located near a village or town, the young men and herders spend much of their time visiting and do not properly care for their deer. There is less dissatisfaction and the men are less liable to sell off their young males, when the herd is not located near a town with several stores.

Parasites.-There are several flies that infest reindeer, the principal one being the warble fly. These flies deposit their eggs during the months of July and August. The larvae are found as early as October scattered along the back of the deer. Here they remain until May and June, when they work their way out through the skin and fall to the ground. I have been unable to determine the length of time required for the metamorphosis to take place, but I believe that the cycle is completed in one year. These larvæ make holes in the skin and render it practically valueless. A deer that is covered with warbles becomes poor. There is also a fly that deposits egg, or at least the larvae make their way into the larynx and in the spring

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